Well it is finally here the first start of Michigan's 2012 deer hunting season. Tomorrow September 22, 2012 kicks of the season with the start of early doe hunt along with the youth and 100 % disabled veterans hunt. This is a two day hunt in which hunters can choice between their choice of weapons a firearm, bow or crossbow. The early doe hunt is only in certain DMU'S while the youth and 100 % disabled veterans hunt are statewide. Please make sure you refer to the 2012 Michigan Antlerless Deer Hunting Digest for complete regulations, license information and maps.Will you and your friends be going out this weekend to try and fill the freezer? I hope so, most of the Sanctuary team will be out there with you trying to fill those tags. Remeber that this is an excellent time to donate some venison to the hungry by use of the Michigan Sportsman Against Hunger program.

What do you think of the early Antlerless firearm season? Do you love it or hate it?

We would love to hear from you!!! Please comment and or share this link with your friends.

Over the last couple, of months while working on our new website I have been thinking of the direction of the hunting world as we know it. It has changed so much over the last 10 years. It has had me thinking of all the reason that I started hunting and what it meant to me. It reminded me of my first hunts, were the sight of a couple of does and a few squirrels were enough to pump me up. It was the thrill of being in nature up close with all of God’s creation. When the excitement of watching a young buck chase doe’s by your favorite stand was enough to make a great hunt. Is it that simple? “The hunter’s first thrill of a close encounter” that gets us hooked on the sport.

I read a Blog today by Dave Hurteau of Whitetale 365 a hunting blog found on Field and Stream. It was titled “Todays Challenge: Say Something Nice About Outdoor TV” In the article Dave Hurteau says “I don’t think it’s that much of a mystery. Watching a giant buck come trotting through the hedge apples or weaving through the bluestem or thumping over the oak flat with the morning light on him is a rare, rare sight for most of us. To see it, many of us are willing to put up with a circus of grade-school antics and a cascade of moronic clichés. Like it or not, outdoor TV is more and more the (or at least a) public face of our sport. And while we absolutely should piss and moan when we don’t like the way we are being represented, we should also stand up and point and shout when it’s done right.”

Watching hunting videos and Outdoor TV made me a much better hunter than I was ten years ago. But lately it seams to me that there is something lost in the translation of the outdoor television shows. The average hunter has more information available to him than ever before and has the potential to kill big bucks just like on TV, Sure it takes a ton of hard work and dedication to making it happen, but when it happens!!! The level of enthusiasm and true heart that goes into a hunt that you have worked so hard toward, surely can not be miss translated.

In this fast paced world, we live in today is the demand for more buck kills on film, and the search for the biggest bucks caused us to lose focus on what the future of our sport is? Where do we go form here? For as many hunters today that focus on trophy hunting, there are 3 times as many hunters that are happy to put meat on the table.

Unless you live in a box or climate controlled underground fortress you have more than likely heard all the talk about the 2012 drought. It is being labeled as one of the worst droughts that the US as seen in the last 100 years. It is extremely broad covering 57% of the contiguous 48 states and affecting 1700 counties.

I know that the farmers that we lease land from are on the edge every week praying that we get enough rain to allow the crops to grow and not be lost. I joke about rain dances but am sure that there are plenty of people dancing right now. With 48 % ofcorn crops rated poor to very poor and 38%

f soybean crops rated poor to very poor it will be difficult times for our farmers and there families.

So what does this mean for all the crazy whitetail freaks like us? I know that we have been extraordinarily lucky getting just enough rain when we need it to allow our fall food plots to sprout, will that luck continue? Will there be enough rain to allow the food plots to grow into thick deer attracting magnets? I sure hope so, what I do know is that with the lack of rain fall and also the possibility of the crops being harvested earlier than usual, that deer will have to look harder and longer for a nutritious food source come fall. They will also lose bedding and cover if the crops are taken earlier forcing them into the woods with fewer places to hide. This is actually exciting news if you are lucky enough to have food and cover plots that survive into the late fall and winter months. If your property has better food and cover than you neighbors, Bam you know were all the big bucks will be.

I am no deer biologist, but I have read various

articles stating that deer antler growth is stunted by the lack of rain, but so far my trail camera photos have not led me to that conclusion, but really how do you gage what a deer’s antlers may have looked like with more rain fall? There is also a lot of concern for disease and infection within the deer herd with them having to drink out of the same stagnate water holes instead of multiple flowing streams and ponds.

Has all this talk about the drought made you change your hunting strategies for the up coming sea

son? I know that it has been bouncing around in my head at night when I try to sleep. Here, is some food for thought, find natural watering holes on your property, look for dropped or cut tree tops for cover, if you have not planted a food plot already there is still time, get out there and plant themnow, scout for acorns, dig an extraordinarily deep pond (lol). If you plan now this could be your best season ever.

Are there cougars found in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula? Well according to the Michigan DNR that answers is yes. In the last two months alone, the Michigan DNR has verified three photos of cougars in Baraga County and southern and northern Marquette County. As of July 27, 2012 the DNR has confirmed eight sets of tracks, one trail camera video and eight photos from nine different Upper Peninsula Counties including Delta, Marquette, Schoolcraft, Mackinac, Chippewa, Ontonagon, Houghton, Keweenaw and Baraga counties. According to a press release by the DNR this is the 17th time the DNR has verified the existence of cougars in the UP since 2008. The last know cougar found in Michigan prior to 2008 was killed in Newberry in 1906.

So why has there been such a dramatic increase in cougar sightings over the last 5 years? Your opinion is as good as mine but according to Adam Bump a specially trained DNR Biologist to investigate cougar sightings “The growing body of evidence continues to indicate the presence of an unknown number of adult cougars in the Upper Peninsula,”. “In the five years since we confirmed our first cougar report we have yet to receive any evidence of breeding activity, as all images and other physical evidence have been from adult cats.” Bump also states “The increase in verified cougar sightings in recent years could be attributed to several factors, although the two most significant are probably the presence of more transient individual cougars moving east from established Western populations, and the growing number of trail cameras being used in the woods, making it easier to capture clear images of elusive cougars,” Bump said. “We appreciate how cooperative the public has been in sending their reports and photos to the DNR for review. This cooperation allows us to effectively monitor cougars in the state.”

The fact is that cougar sightings have been on the rise for the last couple of years. But according to a Michigan DNR press release they are extremely difficult to verify due to lack of physical evidence. Sightings reported to the special DNR cougar team will be investigated. They may come out and visit the site for verification. After they have collected all the evidence, then they decided if the presence of the cougar sighted can be verified.

Please remember that in Michigan cougars are currently classified as endangered species and it is illegal to kill or injure unless in the case of self defense. If you would like to learn more about cougars in Michigan, feel free to visit www.michigan.gov/cougars

If you would like to report evidence or sightings of a cougar you can submit it on the web site www.michigan.gov/cougars. Or for an emergency call the poaching hotline at 800-292-7800.

We would like to hear your thoughts on cougars in Michigan. If you would like to keep this conversation going please comment on this post below.

Photo caption: This trail camera photo of a cougar was taken at 2 a.m. on July 18 in northern Marquette County. The photo represents the 17th time the DNR has been able to verify the presence of cougars in the Upper Peninsula since 2008.

Photo Caption:

This photo of a cougar was taken by Baraga County resident Fred Nault near Skanee on Saturday, May 5. The photo represents the 15th time the DNR has been able to verify the presence of a cougar in the Upper Peninsula since 2008.

Weekly Fishing Report - March 8, 2012

Michigan DNR sent this bulletin at 03/08/2012 08:15 AM EST

Weekly Fishing Report

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

March 8, 2012

Safety Tips for Spring Ice FishingIt’s almost officially spring and although this season has been fairly inconsistent for great ice fishing, there still may be numerous opportunities in different locations throughout the state to get out on the water. But just remember, there are a few important safety precautions to take if you plan to do so:

1. Towards the end of the season, ice becomes rotten and soft. Although ice may still be more than a foot thick, it might not be strong enough to hold someone safely.2. Don’t forget to still carry the appropriate safety items, such as ice picks and a throw rope. And remember to wear a personal flotation device when heading out.3. Continue to utilize the buddy system and know you’ll have someone with you to help if you fall through the ice.4. Carry a fully charged cell phone in a waterproof plastic bag. Make sure it is easily accessible on your person in case of an emergency. 5.Pay attention to the weather. If it hasn’t been consistently cold or if there has been a lot of wind you can’t guarantee there will be solid ice to head out on.

While the northern sections of the state are digging out from the snow storm, the Lower Peninsula is dealing with high water levels in rivers and streams. Water conditions were not only muddy but also had floating debris making its way downstream. River fishing will depend on rain later this week and run-off from snow melt as temperatures push into the 50’s.

Lake Erie: Boats launching from Bolles Harbor are fishing the “Hot Hole” off Plum Creek. Shore anglers are targeting bluegill and perch at the Metro Park.

Huron River: Is producing walleye and pike. Try Hot-n-Tots, jig and minnow or a worm under a bobber.

Detroit River: A couple walleye were caught up near the Edison Plant. Shore anglers are still catching the occasional perch in the canals around Gibraltar.

Lake St. Clair: A few boats were launching at the ramps but no word on catch rates.

Clinton River: Has shore fishing along the river and on the Spillway however catch rates were unpredictable.

Harbor Beach: Ice in the harbors is either unsafe or just plain gone. Brown trout were caught in the Edison discharge channel when the plant is running however nothing was caught when it was off.

Saginaw Bay: Has open water fishing. The Pine River mouth is open with high water levels and muddy water. Fishing was slow at Palmer Road due to muddy water. There was no ice from Pinconning south. Those wading in the Hot Ponds caught a few pike but catch rates were slow. On the east side of the bay, fishing is limited to marina basins, and those connected to rivers are very muddy. Rivers and creeks at Sebewaing, Caseville and Port Austin were high, muddy, and full of debris.

Saginaw River:Had high water levels. Those out fishing were not able to control their drift because of the strong currents. Conditions might improve toward the end of this week if the area does not get heavy rain. Best bet for the weekend boat anglers would be to head out into the bay and look for clean water.

Tittabawassee River:Has high water levels so the current is fast. Anglers need to watch for floating debris. The boat ramps were partially flooded.

Flint River:Walleye were starting to move in. Anglers had limited success at M-15, Atwood Stadium and the Holloway Reservoir Dam. With the projected warm weather this week the walleye should be moving in prior to the closure on March 15.

Inland lakes should still have ice however deep snow and slush will not only make travel difficult, but will also cover areas that may be dangerous. Fishing continues to be fair at best, with a few perch, walleye, pike and trout caught. With the heavy snow and warm weather, anglers might want to consider removing their ice shanties prior to the March 15 deadline.

Alpena: Strong winds should blow the ice out of Thunder Bay by the weekend.

Thunder Bay River: The City of Alpena has removed all the snow piled up at the access site so the ramp should be open now. The river is ice-free and there are some steelhead and a few brown trout for those open water fishing.

Hubbard Lake: Had fair to good perch fishing.

Au Sable River: Had very good steelhead fishing. The access sites and ramps are now open.

Higgins Lake: Has foot travel only because of the deep snow and slush. Those taking machines out were getting stuck. Anglers are basically heading out for smelt and perch only. For smelt, try off the west launch in 20 to 30 feet of water. For perch and smelt, try near the Birch Lodge. Smelt were caught during the day however the better catches came at night.

Houghton Lake: Travel on the ice is difficult due to deep snow and slush. Some have already pulled their shanties off the ice. Few anglers have been out.

Tawas Bay: Ice conditions will deteriorate quickly this week so anglers will need to use extreme caution. Off Jerry’s Marina, a few walleye were caught and a couple pike were speared.

Au Gres River: Steelhead are running in Whitney Drain which is on the East Branch of the river. Most of the fish are upstream of the Singing Bridge, where good numbers were caught when drifting spawn. Fish were also caught at the Singing Bridge access site and in the surf when the ice packs move out of the way. Rain and subsequent high muddy water may affect the bite by the end of the week.

Keweenaw Bay: A couple coho were caught off Sand Point. A stretch of ice flowing past Sand Point towards the head of the Bay made it impossible to fish this popular site. Rainbow and brown trout were caught near the mouth of the Falls River.

Little Bay De Noc: Heavy snowfall limited angler access to most of the Bay. Poor ice conditions along the shore access areas and pressure cracks are creating some problems so those heading out need to use extreme caution at all times. Many have pulled their shanties or moved them to shore. Walleye were caught between Gladstone and the Escanaba River when jigging rapalas in 25 to 33 feet of water or along the Center Reef when jigging or using tip-ups in 18 to 30 feet of water.

Perch fishing remained about the same although few anglers were out. Most were jigging wigglers or minnows in five to 23 feet of water near Kipling. Much warmer temperatures could present more problems with the ice so those that still have ice shanties out should take notice and be ready to move them if necessary.

Munising: Heavy snowfall and the resulting slush have made travel on the ice difficult. Anglers need to use caution as some of the holes are now snow covered and extremely hard to see. The eastern shoreline between the pier and the hospital seems to be where anglers are heading. The ice at Sand Point has moved in and out a couple times so be sure to use caution. Catch rates for whitefish and splake were poor and most of the fish were very small. Those lucky enough to catch something big enough to keep were using Swedish Pimples, soft-body baits or tip-ups with minnows. Few coho were reported but those jigging for them did catch a couple herring. No smelt to report.

Munuscong: Anglers were not having any luck with perch or walleye. Many have removed their ice shanties since the 18 inches of snow fell.

Cedarville and Hessel: Musky Bay and Hessel Bay have a lot of nice perch to offer. It takes time and a lot of moving around. Try 10 to 14 feet of water with wigglers or wax worms. This area has approximately 14 inches of snow. Slush and deteriorating ice conditions will be a concern with the warmer temperatures.